The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.

SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.

SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.

Many R2 facilities have found eBay to be an instrumental tool for finding buyers for their used electronics. While this can be a good venue for selling parts and equipment that are classified as R2/Ready for Reuse or R2/Ready for Resale (meaning it has been tested and found working according to Provision 6 of the R2 Standard), it is generally not a practical venue for selling R2/Ready for Repair equipment and components.

Under the R2 Standard, equipment that has not been tested or that is non-functioning can only be sold to a buyer that meets the due diligence requirements of Provision 6 (c) (3). Most buyers on eBay would not be likely to qualify under these R2/Ready for Repair requirements for due diligence. Unless a relationship for ongoing transactions is established with a particular eBay buyer, this is not going to be a practical downstream option for R2 certified companies.

As part of our ongoing quality initiative, SERI has been reviewing the eBay sites used by R2 certified companies. We have noticed some questionable advertisements that cause concern about whether the testing and resale requirements of Provision 6 are fully understood and being met. A few examples:

"As-Is" - This is a term typically used in warranty language that means the seller does not guarantee that the item will be fit for a particular purpose of the buyer, and/or that the seller is providing no warranty that the item works. Since R2 Provision 6 requires working equipment that is covered by a Product Return Plan, it is unlikely that "As-Is" sales conform to either the testing or return policy requirements of Provision 6.

"Parts only" - A recent advertisement stated "machine is for parts and repairs only, and no warranty of any kind is expressed or implied." Again, since R2 Provision 6 requires working equipment to be covered by a Product Return Plan and policy, this would not conform to the R2 Provision 6 requirements. It is possible to sell parts, but those parts carry the same requirements for testing, records of testing, and return plans as whole units.

"Pulled from a working environment" - Most recyclers do not implement the quality controls to adequately document the functionality of the equipment or components prior to being de-installed. Usually the decision to sell equipment to a refurbisher is done after it has been decommissioned. "Pulled from a working environment" does not, in and of itself, meet the testing requirements of Provision 6.

"List of non-working key functions" for equipment labeled as R2/Ready for Resale is not enough. In order to be classified as R2/Ready for Resale, ALL key functions must work according to Provision 6(c)(2). For example, a laptop cannot be classified as R2/Ready for Resale if the LCD screen is unreadable. This is a key function of a laptop that prevents it from functioning for the user.

The bottom line: if you don't have records documenting that used equipment has passed testing of at least the key functions, then it should not be sold on eBay. Instead, find a qualified refurbisher that will fulfill the due diligence requirements of Provision 6(c)(3).

The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.

SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.

SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.